Power supply for 2-line dimmer

ABSTRACT

A power supply circuit for a dimmer switching device includes a voltage doubler circuit, a filter circuit, a switching power supply, and a linear regulator circuit. In one embodiment, the voltage doubler circuit includes a first stage having a first capacitor and a first diode, and a second stage having a second capacitor and a second diode. The switching power supply may include a feedback circuit, and may be a non-isolated power supply. In an embodiment, the dimmer device is variable between an OFF position and a full ON position, and the circuit is effective to provide power for operation of the switching power supply while the dimmer device is in the full ON position.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/730,981, filed Oct. 27, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to power supplies utilized in lighting control applications and, more specifically, to power supplies used to power internal dimmer circuits.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A common application for a two wire connection circuit is to power the internal control of a dimmer. Conventional power supplies for two line dimmers are often based on a linear analog approach, including different capacitor charging schemes with a linear post regulator. Examples of power supplies utilizing this approach are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,334,184; 4,504,778; 4,678,985; and 5,600,552. These designs have a number of drawbacks, including bulky components and inefficiency, as they can draw current while the device is in its OFF state. These power supplies also sometimes have high implementation costs.

A switching power supply can avoid the above-noted problems. A switch mode power supply regulates by switching a transistor between saturation (fully on) and cutoff (fully off). When the transistor turns on, energy is delivered to an inductor, and in some cases to the output capacitor and load. When the transistor turns off, the stored energy in the inductor is delivered to an output filter capacitor and a load. The transistor is operating either at full current and minimum voltage, or at full voltage and minimum current, which results in little wasted power. Efficiencies of switch mode power supplies are typically in the range of 80% to 95%, and in some instances even higher. Switching frequencies may range from 25 kHz to over 1 MHz, with 100 kHz to 400 KHz being a typical range. In an off line switch mode power supply (AC mains at 50 Hz or 60 Hz), a transformer which is sometimes needed for isolation operates with a core flux in the frequency range noted above, which is very much higher than 50 or 60 Hz. This results in a core which is much smaller and lighter compared to a conventional power supply. Also, since much less heat is generated due to high efficiency, smaller parts and smaller heat sinks can be used; in some power supplies the PC board alone can act as a sufficient heat sink.

Another advantage of a switch mode power supply is that the input voltage need not be higher than the output voltage. While a linear regulator can only step down, a switch mode power supply can step up or down and can have a negative output voltage. Furthermore, a linear regulator can neither boost nor switch polarity.

A block diagram of a typical dimmer using a switching device is shown in FIG. 1. When used to power dimmer internal circuits 19, the switching device 15 of the dimmer is connected between the line terminal 11 and a load 16, and the neutral terminal 12 is connected to the other side of the load as shown in FIG. 1.

The power supply 18 for a dimmer is typically connected across the switching device terminals. The design of this type of power supply can be a problem because the available AC power source will normally depend on the status of the load. For example, when the dimmer is at its full ON position the AC input can be utilized only for a short time period close to the zero crossing; this limits the amount of power available for the circuit power supply 18. FIG. 2 represents an example of a dimmer AC waveform 20 where the switching device 15 includes a triac as a switching element. Time periods 22 (T1 to T2, etc.) represent the time that the load is on. Time periods 21 (T0 to T1, T2 to T3, etc.) represent the time that the load is off, during which AC line power is available to power the dimmer's power supply.

The minimum operating voltage represents a restriction on the switching device of the switch mode power supply which may be critical for lighting applications. As shown in FIG. 2, when the AC input power can be utilized only during short intervals of time around the zero crossing, peak voltage levels which develop while the load is OFF can be marginal for switching operation or may not provide enough energy for the required power output. Switching power supplies therefore may not be suitable for use in lighting applications, which normally require unobstructed line access and input voltage values which are not too low for the switching power supply to operate properly. A similar problem may arise in home energy management systems, in which the power switching device is placed in series with a 24V or 120V power source and a load (as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,678,985).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the above-noted problems by providing a switching power supply circuit in which the input voltage level is increased, thereby improving the performance of the switching power supply. A voltage multiplier such as a voltage doubler circuit is introduced between the load switching device and the input to the switching power supply. The voltage multiplier permits stable operation of the power supply even at low voltages.

According to an aspect of the invention, a power supply circuit for providing power to internal circuits of a lighting dimmer device is adapted to be connected to a source of potential; the power supply circuit includes a voltage multiplier, a switching power supply, and a linear post regulator. The voltage multiplier is adapted to be coupled to the source of potential to provide an output signal of at least double the source of potential; the switching power supply is coupled to the voltage multiplier to receive the multiplied voltage as an input. The linear post regulator is interposed between the switching power supply and the internal circuits of the dimmer device.

According to another aspect of the invention, a power supply circuit for connection to a lighting dimmer device is provided which includes a voltage doubler circuit, a filter circuit, a switching power supply, and a linear regulator circuit In one embodiment, the voltage doubler circuit includes a first stage having a first capacitor and a first diode, and a second stage having a second capacitor and a second diode. The switching power supply may include a feedback circuit, and may be a non-isolated power supply. In an embodiment, the dimmer device is variable between an OFF position and a full ON position, and the circuit is effective to provide power for operation of the switching power supply while the dimmer device is in the full ON position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional arrangement for powering a dimmer circuit.

FIG. 2 shows an AC waveform in a dimmer circuit with a triac switching element.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a switching power supply circuit in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram for a power supply circuit in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a switching power supply 30 according to an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, a voltage multiplier such as a voltage doubler is used to increase the input voltage level of the power supply, thereby assuring proper operation of the power supply even when the dimmer is at its full ON position. A voltage doubler circuit 31 is connected between the switching device 15 and the input to the switching power supply 38. This arrangement permits direct access to the line terminal 11 for various components of the dimmer providing other optional dimmer functions such as communication to remote devices. Other voltage multiplication circuits besides voltage doublers (e.g. 3×) may also be used. A linear post regulator 32 may be advantageously placed between the output of power supply 38 and the dimmer internal circuits 19. Noise sensitive dimmer circuits may particularly benefit from an additional linear post regulator.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a circuit diagram for a circuit 40 realizing the block diagram of FIG. 3. Circuit 40 includes a metal-oxide varistor MOV1 for surge protection, a fusible resistor R1 providing overcurrent protection, voltage doubler 31, and an LC filter upstream of the switching power supply 38. Diode D1 and capacitor C1 represent the first stage of the voltage doubler. During the positive half of the AC cycle (line voltage high and neutral voltage low, e.g. T0 to T2 as shown in FIG. 2), diode D1 conducts and charges capacitor C1. During the negative half of the AC cycle, the DC voltage stored on capacitor C1 is added to the AC component and applied to capacitor C2 through the diode D2. During the negative half of the AC cycle (e.g. T2 to T4 in FIG. 2) the diode D1 is off. The resulting voltage is filtered by the LC filter comprising inductor L1 and capacitor C3. The output of the LC filter is fed to the input of power switcher U1, based in this particular embodiment on a LinkSwitch®-TN device from Power Integrations, Inc. Diode D3, inductor L2 and capacitor C4 realize a buck converter scheme, familiar to those skilled in the art, with diode D4 and resistor-capacitor feedback network U2 providing feedback to the power switcher U1. The output 17 of the power supply is fed into regulator 32 before being applied to the dimmer circuits 19. Regulator 32 includes linear voltage regulator VR1 and output capacitor C5.

In this embodiment, power supply 38 is a non-isolated switching power supply with feedback determining the output voltage. It will be appreciated that an isolated power supply may also be used. In addition, the input of circuit 40 may be connected to an AC source other than AC mains power having line and neutral terminals as shown in FIG. 4. For example, the input may be provided by a transformer, AC divider, filter or other circuit.

While the invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments, it is evident in view of the foregoing description that numerous alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention is intended to encompass all such alternatives, modifications and variations which fall within the scope and spirit of the invention and the following claims. 

1. A power supply circuit for providing power to internal circuits of a lighting dimmer device adapted to be connected to a source of potential, comprising: a voltage multiplier adapted to be coupled to said source of potential to provide an output signal of at least double said source of potential; a switching power supply coupled to said voltage multiplier to receive, as an input potential, said at least double potential from said voltage multiplier; and a linear post regulator interposed between said switching power supply and said internal circuits.
 2. A power supply circuit according to claim 1, wherein the voltage multiplier is a voltage doubler.
 3. A power supply circuit according to claim 1, wherein the switching power supply is a non-isolated power supply.
 4. A power supply circuit according to claim 1, wherein the switching power supply includes a feedback circuit.
 5. A power supply circuit according to claim 1, further comprising a filter circuit interposed between the voltage multiplier and the switching power supply.
 6. A power supply circuit according to claim 1, wherein said source of potential includes a line terminal, said line terminal being accessible for direct connection to components of the dimmer device.
 7. A power supply circuit according to claim 1, wherein said source of potential is one of AC mains power, a transformer, an AC divider, and a filter.
 8. A power supply circuit according to claim 1, further comprising a switching device having a line connection terminal for connection to said source of potential and a load connection terminal, and wherein the voltage multiplier is coupled to the load connection terminal.
 9. A power supply circuit for connection to a lighting dimmer device, comprising: a voltage doubler circuit adapted to be coupled to a source of potential; a filter circuit connected to the voltage doubler circuit; a switching power supply connected to the filter circuit; and a linear regulator circuit connected to the switching power supply and coupled to an internal circuit of said dimmer device.
 10. A power supply circuit according to claim 9, wherein the voltage doubler circuit includes a first stage having a first capacitor and a first diode, and a second stage having a second capacitor and a second diode.
 11. A power supply circuit according to claim 9, wherein the filter circuit includes an inductor and a capacitor.
 12. A power supply circuit according to claim 9, wherein the switching power supply includes a feedback circuit.
 13. A power supply circuit according to claim 9, wherein the linear regulator circuit includes a linear voltage regulator and a capacitor.
 14. A power supply circuit according to claim 9, wherein said source of potential is one of AC mains power, a transformer, an AC divider, and a filter.
 15. A power supply circuit according to claim 9, wherein the switching power supply is a non-isolated power supply.
 16. A power supply circuit according to claim 9, wherein said dimmer device is variable between an OFF position and a full ON position, and said circuit is effective to provide power for operation of the switching power supply while said dimmer device is in the full ON position.
 17. A power supply circuit according to claim 9, further comprising a switching device having a line connection terminal for connection to said source of potential and a load connection terminal, and wherein the voltage doubler is coupled to the load connection terminal.
 18. A power supply circuit according to claim 17, wherein the switching device includes a triac.
 19. A power supply circuit according to claim 1, wherein the voltage multiplier is a voltage tripler.
 20. A power supply circuit according to claim 1, wherein said source of potential includes a load terminal, said load terminal being accessible for direct connection to components of the dimmer device.
 21. A power supply circuit according to claim 1, wherein said source of potential represents a train of pulses and the switching power supply is utilized to power devices other than dimmers connected to said source.
 22. A power supply circuit according to claim 1, further comprising a switching device having a line connection terminal for connection to said source of potential and a load connection terminal, and wherein the voltage multiplier is coupled to the line connection terminal.
 23. A power supply circuit according to claim 17, wherein the switching device includes a FET.
 24. A power supply circuit according to claim 17, wherein the switching device includes a IGBT. 